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The perfect gamepad

I'm in the market for a PC gamepad. I'll be using it for the odd Steam game (mostly Burnout Paradise and Audiosurf), and a lot of freeware and retro games (Spelunky, Hydorah, Action Fist, SEGA Smash Pack, etc).

Wired vs. wireless isn't an issue at all; unlike with a console I'll only be a few feet away from my computer at most.

My current choices:

Xbox 360 Controller
It's exactly like the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows, but five dollars cheaper and you have to download the driver from the internet. I can live with that. I really like the design of the thing; it's one of the most comfortable controllers I've held. Unfortunately, I've only really ever played Halo with it. I've heard that the the dpad is sorely lacking. As most 2D freeware games tend to use the dpad, that seems like it might be a problem.

Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2
Looks pretty nice, but I think it uses DirectInput. As a lot of games these days are starting to use Xinput exclusively, that seems like it might be a problem. I'm also not a huge fan of the PlayStation's controllers, and it looks pretty similar.

Xbox 360 Pad EX 2 with Turbo
Now we've got this thing. It's an officially licensed Xbox 360 gamepad, apparently designed for fighting games. Has a similar design to the official pad, which is good. The Dpad is reportedly amazing, but a multiple reviews say that the thumbsticks are low quality and generally flaky, and a number of the people who reviewed it quite well seem to be using it with fighting games almost exclusively.

If whatever you're using doesn't need joysticks, I say hunt down one of the Sega USB Saturn controllers from eBay. It has a nice button layout, a really good d-pad, and the buttons are assigned smartly by DirectInput, so that you can usually just start using it on anything. If you do need twin joysticks, I'd say go for the Xbox 360 pad, since it's the easiest to make work on most things.

If whatever you're using doesn't need joysticks, I say hunt down one of the Sega USB Saturn controllers from eBay. It has a nice button layout, a really good d-pad, and the buttons are assigned smartly by DirectInput, so that you can usually just start using it on anything. If you do need twin joysticks, I'd say go for the Xbox 360 pad, since it's the easiest to make work on most things.

edit: picture:

Can you lime an image?

cj iwakura on July 2010

Well, good morning. Welcome to the new scenario. What should we do today?

The Gamecube controller always felt cheap and plasticky to me. Why do so many people like it?

It's easily one of the most ergonomic for me, that's why I take to it. It was my controller of choice for its console generation, I didn't like using the Dualshock or any of the Xbox controller varieties nearly as much. It was terrible for 6 button fighting games, though, and that D-Pad wasn't too useful in general. Anyways, I can definitely see why someone might want to use it on PC, I'm considering an adapter for myself now!

Something with xinput, like the 360 controllers work much better with ports, since they are usually programed to auto recognize it and even give you appropriate button prompts.

That said, playing games like AC or racing games, which require holding down the trigger for long periods of time while also using the face buttons, with the 360 controller for windows causes me shooting pains after a few hours.

If whatever you're using doesn't need joysticks, I say hunt down one of the Sega USB Saturn controllers from eBay. It has a nice button layout, a really good d-pad, and the buttons are assigned smartly by DirectInput, so that you can usually just start using it on anything. If you do need twin joysticks, I'd say go for the Xbox 360 pad, since it's the easiest to make work on most things.

You know what, if you could cut that bad boy in half and have each on powered and remove a big chuck of the middle gunk, it would be perfect. I actually preferred the duke to the recent 360 controllers and frankly have had fewer reasons to get a 360 because of the new beast.

If whatever you're using doesn't need joysticks, I say hunt down one of the Sega USB Saturn controllers from eBay. It has a nice button layout, a really good d-pad, and the buttons are assigned smartly by DirectInput, so that you can usually just start using it on anything. If you do need twin joysticks, I'd say go for the Xbox 360 pad, since it's the easiest to make work on most things.

edit: picture:

Can you lime an image?

One thing, if you do order one, make sure it has the Sega logo on it. There are some really cheap knock-offs that break after 10 minutes of use.

First off, it's an incredibly well designed controller egronomically, unless you have tiny hands or decades of abusing your hands via a Dual Shock have molded your fingers into deformed claws.

Secondly, as has been pointed out already, pretty much every recent PC game with controller support not only automatically recognizes the 360 controller but changes every in-game prompt to the appropriate button/trigger on the controller. Once you play a game that doesn't do this, you'll realize how nice it is.

Thirdly, unless you're an obsessive fighting game fan, the d-pad is perfectly serviceable. If you're playing more than fighting games, you'll be using the analog sticks and analog triggers much more than the d-pad, which gives you a reason to buy a controller that actually has analog sticks and analog triggers.

If you're playing more than fighting games, you'll be using the analog sticks and analog triggers much more than the d-pad, which gives you a reason to buy a controller that actually has analog sticks and analog triggers.

No, I won't. I mean, I will use the analog sticks for a few games (such as Burnout, which has gotten too hard to play using the keyboard), but I'll also be using it for a lot of freeware and indie games, which tend to be in 2D and use the D-pad.

If you're playing more than fighting games, you'll be using the analog sticks and analog triggers much more than the d-pad, which gives you a reason to buy a controller that actually has analog sticks and analog triggers.

No, I won't. I mean, I will use the analog sticks for a few games (such as Burnout, which has gotten too hard to play using the keyboard), but I'll also be using it for a lot of freeware and indie games, which tend to be in 2D and use the D-pad.

It depends on the indie game, but plenty of them that have controller support also use the analog sticks and not just the d-pad. Audiosurf, for example, supports the 360 controller analog sticks but not the d-pad. Shatter supports the analog sticks. I'm curious as to what games only support a d-pad and not sticks, since controller support for modern PC games, indie or otherwise, seems to be all or nothing at this point.

Edit: Also just downloaded Hydorah, which supports the 360 controller analog sticks and not the d-pad.

Again, the d-pad on the 360 controller is perfectly fine.

Just wanted to chime in that a lot of the "Buy a Saturn pad, the 360 d-pad sucks" advice originates from the fighting game community. Grain of salt, etc.

If you're playing more than fighting games, you'll be using the analog sticks and analog triggers much more than the d-pad, which gives you a reason to buy a controller that actually has analog sticks and analog triggers.

No, I won't. I mean, I will use the analog sticks for a few games (such as Burnout, which has gotten too hard to play using the keyboard), but I'll also be using it for a lot of freeware and indie games, which tend to be in 2D and use the D-pad.

It depends on the indie game, but plenty of them that have controller support also use the analog sticks and not just the d-pad. Audiosurf, for example, supports the 360 controller analog sticks but not the d-pad. Shatter supports the analog sticks. I'm curious as to what games only support a d-pad and not sticks, since controller support for modern PC games, indie or otherwise, seems to be all or nothing at this point.

Again, the d-pad on the 360 controller is perfectly fine.

Just wanted to chime in that a lot of the "Buy a Saturn pad, the 360 d-pad sucks" advice originates from the fighting game community. Grain of salt, etc.

I think most things where joy2key is used, the dpad will function better than the analog sticks. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Aside from this, SEGA's PC Genesis games, Spelunky, Hydorah, La Mulana, and Gun Girl 2 come to mind off the top of my head. I'm sure there's more; I've got a lot of freeware.

So, yeah. Based on what people here are saying, I'll likely get an Xbox 360 controller. I'd get a Saturn one also if it cheaper. I've read that the xbox dpad becomes better if you throw a washer into it. I may try that if the dpad turns out to be a huge issue. Or wait for the Razer controller. I am cautiously optimistic that it will be released soon.

If you're playing more than fighting games, you'll be using the analog sticks and analog triggers much more than the d-pad, which gives you a reason to buy a controller that actually has analog sticks and analog triggers.

No, I won't. I mean, I will use the analog sticks for a few games (such as Burnout, which has gotten too hard to play using the keyboard), but I'll also be using it for a lot of freeware and indie games, which tend to be in 2D and use the D-pad.

It depends on the indie game, but plenty of them that have controller support also use the analog sticks and not just the d-pad. Audiosurf, for example, supports the 360 controller analog sticks but not the d-pad. Shatter supports the analog sticks. I'm curious as to what games only support a d-pad and not sticks, since controller support for modern PC games, indie or otherwise, seems to be all or nothing at this point.

Again, the d-pad on the 360 controller is perfectly fine.

Just wanted to chime in that a lot of the "Buy a Saturn pad, the 360 d-pad sucks" advice originates from the fighting game community. Grain of salt, etc.

I think most things where joy2key is used, the dpad will function better than the analog sticks. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Aside from this, SEGA's PC Genesis games, Spelunky, Hydorah, La Mulana, and Gun Girl 2 come to mind off the top of my head. I'm sure there's more; I've got a lot of freeware.

So, yeah. Based on what people here are saying, I'll likely get an Xbox 360 controller. I'd get a Saturn one also if it cheaper. I've read that the xbox dpad becomes better if you throw a washer into it. I may try that if the dpad turns out to be a huge issue. Or wait for the Razer controller. I am cautiously optimistic that it will be released soon.

The Saturn ones go for about $20 on eBay, with a little more for shipping

I use a wireless 360 controller for some PC games. I really love the 360 controller in general, but I didn't want to have to use a wired one. Fortunately, you can buy a wireless controller/dongle pack that's plug-and-play ready with Windows 7.

The Duke controller for the oXbox was probably my most favourite. I liked the Saturns controller before that, one thing I'll always remember about that controller; absolutely no cramps whatsoever. I would play for hours, 8-9 hour sessions someetimes and it wouldn't bother me one bit.

If you already have a 360 I would recommend the wireless 360 pad for windows. It comes with a wireless receiver that will also work with your wireless headset (if you have one), and (if you are like me and already had 4 360 controllers) you can sell/trade one of your old ones to make back a little bit of the money. I think mine cost $45, and it works great.

I've never really understood the rabid fanboyish love for the 360 controller.
The shape is on par with other controllers with regards to comfort, and the buttons are fine.

However, the analog sticks are way too loose, and the way they are concave doesn't work as well as convex style sticks (which basically every other gamepad in the world uses, there is a logical reason for this as well).
I won't get into the atrocious D-pad, as even the people who love the 360 controller usually hate it too.

My favorite for this gen is probably the Dualshock 3 with the Real Triggers attached...however, I feel that Sony's D-pad is almost on par with Microsoft's.
Nintendo's classic controller is the king of the D-pad this gen.

I get most of what you're saying, but concave sticks are way better than convex ones. My thumbs slip off the PS3 pad, but sit just right on the 360 pad. Also, I like the trigger/bumper layout better than on other controllers. And it certainly helps that the 360 pad has become the de facto standard for PC gamepads.